06:00, 20 June 2025
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
Being a refugee can look very different, depending on the person and their situation. Oftentimes, we only see the distressing, limiting images of refugees in the news.
Despite this, there are many refugees who have come out the other side, and are now using their success to help other refugees. For World Refugee Day, we have put together five of these refugees who are now helping others, because going through something terrible and wanting to help others in that situation is a beautiful thing.
The founder of Chobani Yogurt, Hamdi left Türkiye as a Kurdish refugee, citing their treatment of the Kurdish minority as his reason for leaving. Beyond building a billion-dollar company, he hires hundreds of refugees and created the Tent Partnership for Refugees to connect displaced people with job opportunities worldwide.
He has also pledged most of his wealth to help Kurdish refugees, as well as other refugees fleeing terrible situations around the world.
As a teenager, Amal co-founded the Glasgow Girls, who successfully stopped the deportation of vulnerable refugees in the UK. Originally protesting the deportation of one of their friends and her family, the Glasgow Girls won the support of the Scottish Parliament with their fearless activism.
The daughter of Somalian refugees herself, Amal’s brave actions not only saved a family from wrongful deportation but also reshaped asylum policies, continuing to inspire young advocates and activists around the world.
Moud is a Zimbabwean refugee who fled the persecution of LGBTQ+ people and has become a trailblazing LGBTQ+ activist. After waiting two years, she was finally granted asylum in the UK and went on to be one of the founding members of UK Black Pride.
She works as a project manager for Micro Rainbow International to provide safe housing and support for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, helping thousands find dignity and community.
An Afghan refugee, Nooralhaq arrived in the UK alone and has become a leading human rights campaigner. Awarded an MBE, he founded the European Campaign for Human Rights in Afghanistan and champions refugee voices at the highest levels.
Upon his arrival in 2001, Nooralhaq realised that language was the biggest barrier for many refugees, and established the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association, to better help refugees as they migrate.
A refugee of the Syrian civil war and an Olympic swimmer, Yusra famously helped save fellow refugees by swimming their boat to safety. She now advocates for displaced people worldwide and is a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, and has taken on the mantle of raising awareness for refugees everywhere.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
The RNLI. The RNLI is a charity saving lives at sea through lifeboat search and rescue, lifeguards, water safety education and flood rescue. Find out more here
Migrant Help. Is a charity supporting those affected by displacement and exploitation. Support them here.
Refugee Action. This charity helps refugees build safe, hopeful and productive new lives in the UK. Learn more here.
This article aligns with the UN SDGs Reduced Inequalities and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
